Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (Springfields Site)

David Kidney: My noble Friend the Minister for Energy and Climate Change today made the following statement.
	I would like to inform the House that the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA) has successfully reached agreement with Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (WEC) on new commercial arrangements for the Springfields site and fuel manufacturing. The agreement will see the commercial operations and staff transfer fully to WEC, which is the current site management contractor, and the NDA land leased to WEC on a long-term basis. In addition to providing an income stream for the NDA, the new arrangements and plans for the site are expected to reduce significantly NDA's decommissioning liabilities, representing excellent value for the UK taxpayer.
	We welcome and fully support the agreement, which is expected to protect and enhance the site's long-term commercial sustainability through investment and expansion of existing fuel operations. The agreement demonstrates further that major energy companies are gearing up for significant investment in the low-carbon energy sector in the UK.
	In this context, a direction modifying the Energy Act designating directions for the Springfields site has been laid before Parliament. Specifically, the designating directions have been amended to add additional functions, allowing the site to undertake new fuel manufacturing activities.
	Any new developments on the site will be subject to regulatory and other consenting processes.